US6494761B1 - Yo-yo and method for its manufacture - Google Patents

Yo-yo and method for its manufacture Download PDF

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Publication number
US6494761B1
US6494761B1 US09/035,047 US3504798A US6494761B1 US 6494761 B1 US6494761 B1 US 6494761B1 US 3504798 A US3504798 A US 3504798A US 6494761 B1 US6494761 B1 US 6494761B1
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United States
Prior art keywords
socket
insert
polygonal
threaded
alignment
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Fee Related
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US09/035,047
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English (en)
Inventor
Leonard R. Amaral
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Yomega Corp
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Yomega Corp
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Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Yomega Corp filed Critical Yomega Corp
Priority to US09/035,047 priority Critical patent/US6494761B1/en
Assigned to YOMEGA CORPORATION reassignment YOMEGA CORPORATION ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST (SEE DOCUMENT FOR DETAILS). Assignors: AMARAL, LEONARD R.
Priority to AU10679/99A priority patent/AU1067999A/en
Priority to PCT/US1998/021003 priority patent/WO1999019038A1/fr
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of US6494761B1 publication Critical patent/US6494761B1/en
Anticipated expiration legal-status Critical
Expired - Fee Related legal-status Critical Current

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Classifications

    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
    • A63H—TOYS, e.g. TOPS, DOLLS, HOOPS OR BUILDING BLOCKS
    • A63H1/00—Tops
    • A63H1/30—Climbing tops, e.g. Yo-Yo

Definitions

  • This invention relates to improvements in yo-yos and methods for their manufacture.
  • This invention relates to yo-yos, including, but not limited to high performance yo-yos as described in my U.S. Pat. No. 4,895,547 entitled Superior Performance Yo-Yo.
  • Such high performance yo-yos are adapted to spin or “sleep” for extended periods of time, to permit lengthy and extended tricks to be performed before the yo-yo is wound up on its string.
  • the yo-yo is formed from a pair of injection molded plastic yo-yo halves in a conventional insert molding process in which a HeliCoil internally threaded insert, to which the yo-yo axle will attach, is placed in the mold. The mold then is closed and the plastic is injected into the mold to form the yo-yo half with the threaded insert embedded within the yo-yo half.
  • Such conventional insert molding techniques include the use of core pins within the mold on which the inserts can be placed so that they will be located properly and in registry within the mold during the injection process.
  • the inserts are selected from materials that are softer than those of the mold to avoid the possibility of the mold becoming damaged should an insert be improperly loaded or misaligned and the mold closed under such circumstances.
  • Yo-yos that have been manufactured incorporating the invention described in my '547 patent are commercially available from Yomega Corporation typically have used relatively soft inserts such as those formed from brass.
  • the yo-yo halves are molded without placing inserts in a mold cavity.
  • the use of insert molding is made unnecessary. Consequently, the yo-yo halves can be made on continuous automated injection molding machinery with substantial higher production capability and operator efficiency than with insert molding.
  • the yo-yo halves are molded to include a socket aligned with the central axis of the yo-yo half.
  • the socket is open at a face of the yo-yo half, defining an insertion end, and is polygonal in cross section.
  • the socket is relatively deep and is adapted to receive, in an interference fit, a similarly shaped threaded insert, by press fitting the insert into the socket.
  • the socket is formed with a shallow registration socket adjacent its insertion end that is slightly larger in cross-section than the socket but having a shape to facilitate orientation and alignment of the nut with the polygonal socket.
  • the nut With the nut being properly aligned with the socket, the nut then can be press fitted into the socket.
  • the polygonal configuration of the socket and nut assure that the nut cannot become loosened within the plastic. Additionally, by attaching the nut to the yo-yo half in a separate procedure, after the yo-yo half has been molded, the nut can be formed from the same material as the yo-yo axle, e.g., steel, so that there is less risk of the connecting threads being stripped.
  • FIG. 1 is a sectional, fragmented illustration of the yo-yo taken in part through the diameter of the yo-yo;
  • FIG. 2 is an illustration of an internal face of a yo-yo half as seen along the plane 2 — 2 of FIG. 1;
  • FIG. 3 is an end view of the socket of the yo-yo half as seen from the exterior of the yo-yo along the line 3 — 3 of FIG.1;
  • FIG. 4 is an enlarged section taken through the region of the spool and the yo-yo half, showing the structure for attaching the yo-yo axle to the yo-yo half;
  • FIG. 5 is a sectional illustration of the region of a yo-yo half in which the nut and axle are received;
  • FIG. 6 is a further enlarged diagrammatic illustration of the manner in which the nut insert is aligned with the yo-yo half in readiness for the nut to be press-fitted into its receptive socket;
  • FIG. 7 is a flow chart of a prior art process for forming a yo-yo half
  • FIG. 8 is a flow chart of the process for forming a yo-yo half in accordance with the invention.
  • FIG. 9 is an exploded, sectional illustration of a hollow yo-yo half made in accordance with the invention.
  • the yo-yo includes a pair of yo-yo halves 10 , 12 which preferably are formed from a suitable plastic made in an injection molded process.
  • the yo-yo halves are molded from high strength polycarbonate, although other materials may be used.
  • the yo-yo halves may be about 2 1 ⁇ 4 inch in diameter.
  • the inwardly facing surface 14 of each yo-yo half is formed with a cylindrical socket 16 that, in turn, communicates with a smaller diameter inner bore 18 .
  • the socket 16 and bore 18 are aligned with the axis of rotation of the yo-yo.
  • the socket 16 is adapted to receive part of a spool 17 that is rotatably mounted about the axle 30 of the yo-yo.
  • the yo-yo halves are essentially identical.
  • the inner bore 18 communicates with a socket 20 that, in the illustrative embodiment, is open toward the outwardly facing surface 15 of the yo-yo half.
  • the cross sectional configuration of the socket 20 preferably is polygonal, desirably hexagonal. It should be understood, however, that other polygonal shapes may be used.
  • the socket 20 is adapted to receive an internally threaded nut 22 having a polygonal shape adapted to fit, in an interference fit, within the socket 20 .
  • the nut 22 has the same polygonal cross sectional shape as the socket 20 .
  • the relative cross sectional dimensions between the nut 22 and the socket 20 should be such as to permit a press fit of the nut in the socket without unduly stressing the plastic of the yo-yo half while also effecting the secure connection. An interference fit of a few thousands of an inch has been found to be satisfactory.
  • the outer end of the socket 20 is provided with an alignment socket 24 into which an end of the nut 22 can be inserted and which is contoured to engage the inserted end of the nut to align the polygonal shape of the nut 22 with that of the socket 20 .
  • the alignment socket may be the identical polygonal shape as the nut 22 and the socket 20 . It need be only very slightly wider than the socket 20 and should be sufficiently wide to enable an end of the nut 22 to be inserted without interference.
  • the assembler need only bring the nut 22 against the alignment socket 24 while rotating the nut 22 until the end of the nut drops into the alignment socket 24 . So aligned, the nut then can be pressed fitted into the socket 20 . Because the nut is pressed into the yo-yo half in a separate operation, it is not necessary to use the relatively inefficient, labor intensive insert molding techniques described above. Consequently, it is not necessary to form the nut 22 from a softer material than that of the axle 30 . Both the nut 22 and the axle 30 can be formed from the same material, such as steel, thereby reducing the risk of threads becoming stripped by firm tightening of the yo-yo halves.
  • the axle 30 has threaded ends 32 , 34 adapted to be screwed into the nuts 22 as shown in FIGS. 1 and 4.
  • the junctures of the unthreaded portion of the axial 30 with 20 the threaded ends 32 , 34 define shoulders that abut the inner ends of the nuts 22 .
  • the cylindrical spool 17 is rotatably mounted on the axle 30 , the ends of the spool being received, symmetrically, within the sockets 18 in the yo-yo halves. Details concerning the dimensions and other aspects of the spool 17 are disclosed in further detail U.S. Pat. No. 4,895,597, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein, in its entirety.
  • the nut 22 preferably is made relatively long, longer than the width of the nut 22 , and is intended to mate with a similarly long threaded end 32 , 34 of the axle 30 .
  • the relatively long length of the nut and its secure press fit into the preformed polygonal socket provides a self-registering arrangement in which coaxial alignment of the axis of the nut and of the molded yo-yo half is assured. Consequently, the resulting yo-yo will be well balanced and will maintain uniform spacing between the yo-yo halves, fully about the circumference of the yo-yo.
  • the nut 22 may be about 1 ⁇ 4 inch long.
  • a hexagonal nut can be press fitted into a socket 20 about 0.001 inch smaller in cross section than the socket 20 .
  • the depth of the socket 20 may be of the order of 1 ⁇ 4 inch with the alignment socket 24 being of the order of 0.020 inches in depth.
  • the cross sectional dimension of the alignment socket may be of the order of 0.190 inches, just slightly larger than that of the nut 22 to permit the nut 22 to be inserted and rested on the shoulder 36 defined between the junctures of the socket 20 and the alignment socket.
  • FIG. 9 is an illustration of one such yo-yo half and related components, in exploded view, including a cover 36 for the outwardly facing surface of the yo-yo half, the axle 30 and nut 22 .
  • the sockets and bore may be formed in a boss 38 that protrudes outwardly into the hollow 40 of the yo-yo half.
  • the invention provides an improved structure for a yo-yo as well as an improved method for making the yo-yo.
  • the construction avoids the use of insert molding techniques and results in substantial efficiencies.
  • yo-yos may be made with improved alignment.

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  • Toys (AREA)
US09/035,047 1997-10-09 1998-03-05 Yo-yo and method for its manufacture Expired - Fee Related US6494761B1 (en)

Priority Applications (3)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US09/035,047 US6494761B1 (en) 1997-10-09 1998-03-05 Yo-yo and method for its manufacture
AU10679/99A AU1067999A (en) 1997-10-09 1998-10-07 Yo-yo and method for its manufacture
PCT/US1998/021003 WO1999019038A1 (fr) 1997-10-09 1998-10-07 Yo-yo et son procede de fabrication

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
US6149397P 1997-10-09 1997-10-09
US09/035,047 US6494761B1 (en) 1997-10-09 1998-03-05 Yo-yo and method for its manufacture

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
US6494761B1 true US6494761B1 (en) 2002-12-17

Family

ID=26711702

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
US09/035,047 Expired - Fee Related US6494761B1 (en) 1997-10-09 1998-03-05 Yo-yo and method for its manufacture

Country Status (3)

Country Link
US (1) US6494761B1 (fr)
AU (1) AU1067999A (fr)
WO (1) WO1999019038A1 (fr)

Cited By (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20050048869A1 (en) * 2003-08-27 2005-03-03 Takashi Osawa Toy yo-yo with selective enhanced rotation
US7175500B1 (en) 2003-07-10 2007-02-13 Difeo Frank P Yo-yo having a concave bearing surface for performing string layering maneuvers
KR20170102498A (ko) * 2015-01-15 2017-09-11 콘티넨탈 오토모티브 게엠베하 토크를 플라스틱제 케이스로 유도하기 위한 금속제 고정 부재
US20230302377A1 (en) * 2022-03-24 2023-09-28 Nicholas DeStefano Fidget spinner

Citations (14)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US1806485A (en) 1930-05-17 1931-05-19 Mirafuentes Alfonso Flores Musical toy
US2629202A (en) 1950-07-17 1953-02-24 Donald F Duncan Inc Tethered aerial top
US3184885A (en) 1963-02-06 1965-05-25 Co Wachovia Bank Trust Plastic tethered aerial top
US3201895A (en) 1962-03-29 1965-08-24 Norman J Stivers Tethered aerial top
US3717949A (en) 1971-05-14 1973-02-27 J Radovan Tethered aerial tops
US3953936A (en) 1974-11-13 1976-05-04 Ennis Thomas H Yo-yo
US4130962A (en) 1974-11-11 1978-12-26 Jack Russell Company, Inc. Superior performance Yo-Yo
US4207701A (en) * 1978-12-11 1980-06-17 Kuhn Thomas R Dismantlable tethered top with reversible halves
US4327518A (en) 1980-02-27 1982-05-04 Knauff Robert J Inertial device for sight and sound effects in rotating apparatus
US4895547A (en) * 1989-01-27 1990-01-23 Amaral Leonard R Superior performance yo-yo
US5017172A (en) * 1990-01-16 1991-05-21 Seifert C Vaughn Convertible yo-yo and top
US5100361A (en) * 1991-06-28 1992-03-31 Thomas R. Kuhn Tethered aerial top
DE29712814U1 (de) 1996-08-01 1997-09-11 Henrys Jonglierbedarf Produktions- und Großhandels GmbH, 76149 Karlsruhe Jojo
US5813898A (en) 1997-05-08 1998-09-29 Playmaxx, Inc. Yo-yo having engagement pads proximate its axle

Patent Citations (14)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US1806485A (en) 1930-05-17 1931-05-19 Mirafuentes Alfonso Flores Musical toy
US2629202A (en) 1950-07-17 1953-02-24 Donald F Duncan Inc Tethered aerial top
US3201895A (en) 1962-03-29 1965-08-24 Norman J Stivers Tethered aerial top
US3184885A (en) 1963-02-06 1965-05-25 Co Wachovia Bank Trust Plastic tethered aerial top
US3717949A (en) 1971-05-14 1973-02-27 J Radovan Tethered aerial tops
US4130962A (en) 1974-11-11 1978-12-26 Jack Russell Company, Inc. Superior performance Yo-Yo
US3953936A (en) 1974-11-13 1976-05-04 Ennis Thomas H Yo-yo
US4207701A (en) * 1978-12-11 1980-06-17 Kuhn Thomas R Dismantlable tethered top with reversible halves
US4327518A (en) 1980-02-27 1982-05-04 Knauff Robert J Inertial device for sight and sound effects in rotating apparatus
US4895547A (en) * 1989-01-27 1990-01-23 Amaral Leonard R Superior performance yo-yo
US5017172A (en) * 1990-01-16 1991-05-21 Seifert C Vaughn Convertible yo-yo and top
US5100361A (en) * 1991-06-28 1992-03-31 Thomas R. Kuhn Tethered aerial top
DE29712814U1 (de) 1996-08-01 1997-09-11 Henrys Jonglierbedarf Produktions- und Großhandels GmbH, 76149 Karlsruhe Jojo
US5813898A (en) 1997-05-08 1998-09-29 Playmaxx, Inc. Yo-yo having engagement pads proximate its axle

Cited By (6)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US7175500B1 (en) 2003-07-10 2007-02-13 Difeo Frank P Yo-yo having a concave bearing surface for performing string layering maneuvers
US20050048869A1 (en) * 2003-08-27 2005-03-03 Takashi Osawa Toy yo-yo with selective enhanced rotation
KR20170102498A (ko) * 2015-01-15 2017-09-11 콘티넨탈 오토모티브 게엠베하 토크를 플라스틱제 케이스로 유도하기 위한 금속제 고정 부재
US20170314605A1 (en) * 2015-01-15 2017-11-02 Continental Automotive Gmbh Metallic holding element for introducing a torque into a plastic housing
US10323673B2 (en) * 2015-01-15 2019-06-18 Continental Automotive Gmbh Metallic holding element for introducing a torque into a plastic housing
US20230302377A1 (en) * 2022-03-24 2023-09-28 Nicholas DeStefano Fidget spinner

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
WO1999019038A1 (fr) 1999-04-22
AU1067999A (en) 1999-05-03

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AS Assignment

Owner name: YOMEGA CORPORATION, MASSACHUSETTS

Free format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNOR:AMARAL, LEONARD R.;REEL/FRAME:009019/0468

Effective date: 19980302

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Year of fee payment: 4

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Year of fee payment: 8

REMI Maintenance fee reminder mailed
LAPS Lapse for failure to pay maintenance fees
STCH Information on status: patent discontinuation

Free format text: PATENT EXPIRED DUE TO NONPAYMENT OF MAINTENANCE FEES UNDER 37 CFR 1.362

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Effective date: 20141217